I love the tile in the bathroom. It has a section of dark animals against a bright red/orange sunset. The bathroom was a decent size and had a nice, big shower. I love all the solid, dark, warm, welcoming wood. The dining table had a bench along the wall, which was very unique and the chairs had the a lion (Lion King show style) face carved into them. It's all very pretty, but the bathroom could've been cleaner. There were normal-size TVs in the bedroom and living area, so the kids could be told to go away. It's only about ten feet, but at least we aren't all on top of each other. Washer and dryer were the tiny, stacked apartment type...but better than nothing! They put the glasses away upside-down (someone should really inform them about which way of doing this is actually, scientifically, germ-wise more sanitary, aside from personal preferences), so I put them all through a wash cycle. There was dish washing powder for the dishwasher and a little mini-bottle of dish washing liquid for the sink (Palmolive, I think it was. It was green, anyway.) They have the nice, lemony-scented bar soap in the bathrooms, of which there are 1.5. We had a savannah view and saw a lot of varied animals. I got a little confused with the parking garage and where I should park inside it...my choice ended up with a lot of extra walking the first time (when we checked in), but we got it down after a while. People really drive too fast in there, so if you have little kids, hold their hands. The gift shop was on the small side, but nice enough. Sanaa seemed a little more adventurous food-wise than we wanted, so we headed over to AKL proper for Boma and fast food. If I were going to do a DVC stay again, I'd get one at Jambo to save the walk or van ride. The van wasn't in the best shape, kind of smelled and crams you in with other people. It isn't really unpleasant, but I'd rather skip that all the same. I prefer the style of OKW-type one bedrooms. This is obviously just two hotel rooms that were made into a one-bedroom kind of place and doesn't have a large, open feel to it. But it beats one room! :)
I spent alot of money to take my 2 granddaughters to Disney. booked the little mermaid room expecting everything that i was told and read to be a magical time. It was anything but that. The room was closer to pop century than the front of aoa. No joke, the walk was very far, especially after a day in the park. My luggage was sent to the wrong room which caused us to be late for dinner that night. When we called we were told that they were short handed and it would be 45 min before they could help us. R u kidding me! The food court was hectic and the food wasn't anything special. I really can't say anything positive about this resort. Big dissapointment. Do your homework when u plan your next trip. Reviews mean alot. I don't usually write negative reviews, but that was before i stayed @ aoa.
Stayed in little mermaid room, which was very small, and not clean. It was a very far walk from entrance. We had to go outside to make calls. Our bags were sent to the wrong room. It would take too long to write the problems we had. Considering the money, it would pay to stay at Pop century. We were closer. Do your homework when you plan. Don't take the word of your travel agent.
We have had a DVC membership since 1998 and we have come to the conclusion that unless you want to spend every vacation at Disney World it is not worth it. We have tried to get into Hilton Head with no luck, we tried using the time share exchange with no luck, most recently we tried to go to the newest resort in Hawaii, again no luck. Once you buy into this, the only option that is available is Florida and usually your home resort. I got so fustrated that I sold my points for the last two years through a third party, which was totally hassle free, and used the money to go elsewhere. When you talk to member services they just tell you sorry there is nothing they can do and they even admit that Disney has oversold their timeshares and it is very difficult to get a reservation into a location besides your home resort or other DW resort. So unless you have very small children and plan on going to Disney every year, spend your hard earned money elsewhere, this timeshare is too expensive to be so restrictive!
Inconvenient, dated, royal rooms are not worth it. The food court is a far walk and then a madhouse when you get there. The busses are long. The royal rooms have a few extra frills but are tiny and not worth the price. The grounds and the main pool are great. That is the only positive I have. Would not stay here again. I would stay out of the park at a nicer hotel than this resort
Before I stayed here it had always been my favourite resort. It looked beautiful inside and outside! I couldn't believe our luck when we stayed here, it's very pricy but it's totally worth it!! When we arrived we where in awe of home amazing and beautiful the lobby was. The check in staff where friendly and when we checked in we had been upgraded to a garden view room! When we got to our room it was perfect! A billion times better than how I thought the room gonna be. The layout, the design, the colours -everything was perfect! Even the view from our patio was perfect -we could see stormalong bay, crescent lake and of a night we could see the fireworks from EPCOT.I love everything about this resort, some people will moan about it not having a food court but it's only a 2-3 minute walk tops to the Beach Club marketplace where you can get a variety of food and also at the Yacht Club the Captains Grille is one of the best buffets on property and every time I've been it's never been crowded or loud. Also it's just a short walk or boat ride to the Boardwalk and it's within walking distance to EPCOT and DHS. At night there is a campfire and movies on the beach.Although a lot of people think because the Yacht Club is boring because it's grey in all honesty it's the complete opposite -I sat in the Beach Club lobby and it was so loud with kids screaming and crying, where as at the Yacht Club you got none of that! It's so serene and peaceful!Likes:The Cast MembersThe atmosphere and whole hotel in generalThe poolsThe views at hotel and around it. The closeness to EPCOT, DHS, the boardwalk and the Beach Club marketplace The hotel shop has a lot of stuff they don't have in the parksThe bus stops at the Yacht Club first so your kinda guaranteed a seat lolNegatives:None!I was a huge fan of the Yacht Club before I ever stayed there and after staying there I'm now hooked lol. If anyone wants or needs additional information then you can always message me :)
Ok, so if you are reading this trying to figure out whether you should stay here, you need to take 2 different things into consideration. The hotel experience itself and the location. I will cut these into 2, and tell the pros and cons of each, and then you can make your own mind up...The hotel itself...it really is nothing spectacular. It does not look nice from the outside, and the inside really has nothing to do with Disney at all, except on the 4th floor. It is just like any other bland building. The problem with this is the amount of money you are spending to stay here. The place should be amazing and immaculate. Well not only is it not impressive visually, but the cleanliness of the place is deplorable for the price. The rooms are not cleaned well, the balconies have tons of bird droppings and cobwebs everywhere, and they are not taken care of in any way. I will say that the rooms themselves are nice and the layout is excellent. But from a cleanliness standpoint, it is really really bad. And if you complain, nothing changes. I have stayed here 3 times and had the same problems each time. Now after all of that is said, keep in mind, I have stayed here 3 times for a reason...The location is beyond perfect. It is the only place you can walk to the Magic Kingdom in like 7 minutes. And when you arent going there, the monorail goes firectly through your hotel and takes you right to where you want to go. It is so convenient that I overlook the downfalls everytime. There is a reason for this though. We as a family leave the hotel at 7am and do not return until at least 10pm every night. So we are never in the room. If we spent time in the room, we would never stay here. But since we only care about location, this is our place every time. A few other notes...this hotel has Chef Mickeys which is an amazing character meal. It also has the Wave, which is great for a breakfast buffet, and the California Grill, which is a top notch restaurant where you could watch the fireworks from at night. Those are all huge bonuses. So if you care about 5 stay hotels, stay away from here and stay at the GF. If you want location, this is your place!
Disney's Grand Floridian was great! It was in the prime location from the Magic Kingdom. A short monorail ride to the park and a short ferry ride back from the park. The pool area was ok, but the zero-depth entry was great for some of the little children around. The rooms were doable. If they were kept cleaner in-between guests' stay then I would be more satisfied. We found random balloons hanging from the ceiling when we got to our room. But, the layout was nice, it was spaced out to feel secluded but close enough together to feel like you are still a part of the magic. Overall, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa fell just short of maximum stars.
Well we were back again at the end of September, 2013 as I stated in my first review for a 60th Birthday celebration-mine. As was expected, the AS Music is a fantastic place to stay. We had no problems except I did have to wait 6 minutes for a bus to EPCOT once. I can not understand reviews that say they had a terrible stay at this resort, complaining about kids, noise, outdated rooms. I have been here when it was full and have never encountered any of the problems some people have complained about. The staff is top rate, the facilities are always clean and, oh yes, they finally fixed the clock poolside at the guitar pool. I encourage anyone who wants a great Disney experiance to try the All Star Music. You will not be disappointed.
After being unable to get an AP rate at my favorite resort, POFQ, my fiancé and I stayed at Riverside in May 2013. The grounds are simply beautiful - this is one of the most immersive WDW resorts I've stayed at (including 5 deluxe, 3 moderate and all value resorts, plus 2 DVC resorts). Be prepared to walk, though - it is a hike to get to many of the buildings (we were in 36) and it can be confusing. I'm pretty sure we didn't walk back to the main building the same way twice! We used the main bus stops each time because we were eating or shopping, but there are several bus stops throughout. In a fairly busy time of year (the weekend we went was extremely busy), we did not have bus problems at all. Food is good in the food court...about what you expect from a moderate (better than value, even POP). We didn't use the pool, but it was busy whenever we passed and had great ambience (including hammocks that we wish we could have used!). CMs were very friendly and helpful, and overall I'd say that POR became my second-favorite WDW resort (after POFQ). Just a great combination of theming, amenities and price (well, price compared to other WDW resorts...moderates were $99 a night with a pass holder discount just 4 or 5 years ago, now they're twice that, if you're lucky).
Beach Club: Deluxe concierge room We arrived at the Beach Club about the time I noted in the reservation and a lovely young lady, also from Pennsylvania, was there to greet us at the front door. She led us to the concierge check in desks on the 5th to check into the room. Check in went pretty smooth-due to the Magic Bands I needed some guidance on how to pick the times for the Fastpass + selections. After a few minutes, our CM had me cruising through the My Disney Experience like a pro. Once I figured out that you could adjust the times for fine tuning, it was a breeze. After completing the check in, she walked us down to our room on the 4th floor. It was all of the way at the end of a long, winding hall, but the only request I made with concierge was to have a large balcony because my dad loves to sit outside. It had an amazing balcony and a fabulous view of the quiet pool. The room itself was spacious with a seating area and two comfortable beds. There was plenty of room for our clothing in the closet and drawer wise. Room was adorned with a ceiling fan, couch, coffee table, cabinet with mini fridge, writing desk with lamps, small dresser below television with 4 drawers, taller dresser with 4 more drawers, night stand between beds, iHome alarm clock, a wall mounted shelf next to 1 bed (nice touch for those of us with glasses!) DVD player and of course a medium sized flat panel television. Linens were soft and the bed was comfortable. We phoned housekeeping each morning to let them know we were leaving the room so they could come clean. Each time we came back the room it was made up and nap ready for my mother. A mid day break is most enjoyable to us, especially since you feel like you are spending more time in the room aside from sleeping and using the rest room. Although quiet pool may not be the best way to describe the folks that swim there because there were a few times when people needed to use their inside voice! It was a refreshing cool down for those mid day breaks and the hot tub was a nice way to unwind after walking at night. The Stone Harbor Club was great. Tasty snacks available throughout the day with more hearty appetizers and beer available in the late afternoon. It kept hungry stomachs satisfied till dinner. I do not think we will get the concierge next time, even though the service is extra special and the SHC is well stocked, we just do not need the extra food and expense. We generally eat three squares a day, although the beer and water were great because we had not visited the grocery store. I think we will be able to save some money next year opting out of the concierge service. I did love the deluxe room size though! The staff was great and did not have a problem getting us a couple bottles of water. My only complaints would be the size of the bathroom. It was very tiny in relation to the size of the room, but the vanity had a shelf beneath and two sinks to speed up the morning beautification process. The television cable hanging down was rather tacky, but not going to split hairs over it. I am already angling to coming back to the Beach Club next year. Since we spend so much time at Epcot it is so nice to be able to walk a short distance to the International Gateway and be on your merry way. I also enjoyed being close to DHS because normally we drive there, but being able to take the boat at least once was a relief. I think we will be staying there at the end of the trip next year! Besides, how do you not love Stormalong Bay?
I like the progress of this project and cant wait to check it out for myself. I believe from what I have heard already that this will be an amazing experience for anyone staying at the resort. I do hope that Disney realizes as I did, while visiting the Magic Kingdom tonight that when I looked over from the Monorail platform towards the Villas at the Grand Floridian as well as the rest of the resort that the "Show Lights" are burned out all over. I think this is a maintenance issue and should definitely be addressed before the newer part of the resort sets to open. The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is an icon of the Walt Disney World Resort, it is located on the Seven Seas Lagoon with views from the Magic Kingdom this resort deserves to be noticed. THESE LIGHTS HAVE REGRETTABLY BEEN OUT FOR AWHILE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED TO "SHOW READY" QUALITY.
My wife and I stayed at the Boardwalk on our honeymoon back in 2002. We absolutely LOVED IT! The lobby, hallways, décor, etc. was beautiful. It truly felt like you were staying in a four-star luxury resort. The room was big and immaculate! The dining options were very good. Every morning we would walk down to the Boardwalk Bakery for a croissant and coffee, sit by the water and read the paper before starting our day at the parks. We would hop on a boat to go to DHS. We really liked how we could walk into EPCOT for dinner reservations. In order to go to the MK, we would simply walk through EPCOT and hop on the monorail. The ONLY drawback to the Boardwalk for me, since I have small children is that at the end of a day at the MK, you have to take a bus back to the resort. If you don't have small children, this isn't as big of a deal. If I didn't have small children, I would definitely consider the Boardwalk.
We have stayed at Coronado Springs Resort twice. The staff was wonderful. We stayed in the Cabanas last time in August for our 52nd Anniversary... A short walk to the Dig pool. I read some of the reviews and I am not sure we stayed at the same resort... I don't know what people are looking for.... We were on the Disney Dining Plan.. We ate breakfast at the Pepper Market. Our server was so great... The food was very good.. We had dinner one night at The Maya Grille... It was amazing. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. Our room was very clean, walking was great...I can't say enough about our stay. We have been to Caribbean Beach... Very nice, but I did like Coronado Springs better. We even had Gelato at Cafe Rix on our snack plan. Yummy.. When you stay at a Disney Resort you have to expect prices to be a little higher, that is why we took the DDP...
We love this resort, it is what I call our Home away from Home. We have been going to the Pop Century with our kids since they were 6 years old or so and they are now 19 and 21. We all still love vacationing there. The rooms have always been clean and fresh looking the staff working there can not do enough for you. We always request extra pillows and towels and within 10 minutes of our call someone is at our door with what we asked for. When we leave the room for the day we always know we will come back to a nice clean refreshed room again. They always leave different shaped figures made from their linen supply and it is too cute puts a smile on my face everytime. We feel safe there and never worry about anything while we are there. Love it Love it Love it.
love the Boardwalk. entertainment is fun, bakery is to die for, and the walk around the lagoon to beach and yacht club is within minutes. the accessibility to Epcot and Hollywood studios is simple and convenient My favorite resort by far
Having stayed at Art of Animation if you we're not needing a family suite I would pick Pop as the best Value Resort. Everything is great, close to the main building. I love the food at the cafeteria. Nothing bad to say about it!!
Stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms with my wife. Thought the overall theming of the resort was excellent. If you are not doing a Family Suite I would probably stay at Pop Century just due to the proximity of the rooms from the main building. Everything else was great though.
I stay here often. I usually stay for 10 days or more so first off the price is great for a long stay. Second, it is in the middle of the bus run when the buses do stop at all three resorts (like at park closings and early mornings). Early morning bus runs go to All Star Sports, and if the bus is not full they stop by Music for more people. Then on your way. Third reason - although i do not eat a lot at the resort, mostly grab and go breakfast, you are close enough to sports and movies to walk to their food courts. I am really a park person so i very rarely use the pools so cant really judge. Every visit I have found my room clean every day, lots of towels, soaps etc. The rooms are not huge, but often i go by myself or with one person or child so the room is big enough for the amount of time we are in the room. My main reason for staying at Music is the resort is not as huge as the moderates (have stayed in Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and Caribbean Beach) and it seems like when you want to go to the food court you can have quite a walk, especially if you are on the other side of a lake. I would recommend it for a couple or couple with 1 child. maybe 2 small kids....but if you use the room a lot you might start to feel crowded
Without doubt the best located hotel in WDW, if you enjoy the sights and sounds of Epcot. An easy stroll from your room straight into the world showcase, via the International Gateway, between UK and France. A slightly longer but equally easy walk in the other direction will take you to Hollywood Studios. If walking sounds too energetic then take the boat. Buses are provided to all other areas of WDW. The villas are very well appointed. I have stayed in both a 2 bedroom and studios. I would always choose to stay here if it is available. The one and only downside is the parking. Great if you want to use Valet every day, not great if you are bringing in groceries from the store or coming back late from the parks.
We have lost count of our stays in this resort. We have stayed at All Stars once and AKL three times, but Port Orleans is our favorite. There is nothing about this resort that we would improve. We are in good physical shape so the size of the resort and its grounds is not an issue with us. The grounds are incredibly beautiful and the water taxi that runs from POR to POFQ to Downtown Disney is a real bonus in our opinion. This resort gives us everything we wish in our Disney vacation but that may be due to the fact that we are more familiar with this resort. We have been at Port Orleans when some dance groups or cheering squads have also been guests, but we have never had a negative experience with any of these groups. The food court offers a wide variety of choices beginning with breakfast all the way up to closing time. It has been said that Port Orleans is a moderate resort with a deluxe feel and we find this to be true. Nothing is more beautiful than gazing at the Magnolia Bend area from across the Sassagoula River or cruising by the mansions in the boat. The horse and carriage rides add to the serenity of this resort. We enjoyed the Royal Princess rooms, but we certainly do not require a royal room in order to enjoy our stay here. The Royal rooms actually are more appealing to the children. The movies offered at night are another plus. If you are staying in for the evening rather than in the parks, you might find it most comfortable to sit out on the lawn and enjoy a Disney movie with other guests. Since there are 5 quiet pools at this resort (in addition to the main pool Ol' Man Island) there are always opportunities to enjoy a quiet swim or conversation apart from the music and recreation offered at the main pool. The ONLY dislike I have with this resort is that the food court bakery no longer offers pecan pralines. At one time this was the only place in Disneworld where you could purchase these delicious edibles.
Recently moved up from moderate resorts with our first deluxe stay at Disney's Boardwalk Inn and loved every minute of it July/August 2013. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed waking up, relaxing on the boardwalk eating breakfast and drinking coffee as the sun came up each morning was perhaps the best breakfast time we have ever had in 15+ visits over the years. Our room was overlooking the boardwalk, just above the arcade, was well appointed, spacious and surprisingly quiet even right next to the ESPN Club restaurant and shop. Access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios parks via walking path and/or boat was so much more relaxing than the buses; we even walked through Epcot once to get to Magic Kingdom so we could take our son by the pasty shop in France on the way. We ate at restaurants on the boardwalk, neighboring Yacht and Beach Club resorts and Epcot which allowed us to walk back to our room leisurely which is priceless. Being within walking distance of Beaches and Cream, The Captain’s Grille, Yachtsman Steakhouse, ESPN Club, Flying Fish, Shula’s Steakhouse, etc. while also getting to enjoy all the entertainment the boardwalk offers helped make our last stay one of the most enjoyable of any Disney vacation.
POP Century is a very nice resort to stay at. All buildings are close to a pool and are in close proximity to main hub (food court/transportation). Certain lake views provide access to EPCOT Illuminations fireworks display (lake view from building 4, "60s"). Pools are generally not overcrowded, but can be well populated at certain hours of the day. Breakfast foods were so-so in the food court, but the pizza was good (a large pie that is big enough for a family of four costs just two quick service allotments) and I also recommend the nachos. (The nachos use the jerk potato chips, but include toppings such as salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole, onions, and jalapenos) I had that twice, sharing them once with my wife. Probably one of the best features of POP Century was the lines, or lack there of, heading back to the resort. Never said more than 20 minutes for a bus from any destination. Rides to and from EPCOT, Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios were generally 10 minutes or less. Only "complaint" would really be lines at drink stations. That should be helped once Rapid Fill is instituted. Large number of guests using multiple water bottles to fill up on Powerade, Soda, or Iced Tea. Overall, a very good value for a resort for guests just looking for a place to rest their head and occasionally swim.
I've been with DVC for about 6 years. I've had family holidays at Vero Beach, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs at Disney, and Mount Tremblant in Quebec Canada, as well as a 3 day getaway for 2 to Washington DC. The points are flexible and trade incredibly well. Compare to other time share plans. This is easy for us to do because before buying Disney, we bought elsewhere. Our other property and plan has been nothing but frustration for us. We can't trade for good value, the people managing the trading are not helpful and we can't sell the thing because it has held no value. The Disney brand and approach to customer service is what you're paying for and it is definitely worth it. With our family of 5, holidays can get crazy expensive. While the original outlay for Disney points looks expensive, over time it does pay for itself. Also, there is nothing wrong with buying your points resale, as we have done. It works just as well and doesn't have the big mark up. You get the same 'Welcome Home' when you arrive whether you paid $115 per point from Disney, or $49 per point resale. Give in to The Mouse. Resistance is Futile.
It has been our home resort since 92. One of the best Dvc resorts out there. Great parking, large rooms, quite, beautifully landscaped. And a overall relaxed feeling. You will enjoy your stay here
We have stayed at Wilderness Lodge several times including the year it first opened (1994) and this August (2013). It is by far one of the best resorts at Walt Disney World. From the transportation options - boat, bus, easy access to the monorail, pool with water slide, movie on the beach, food options, customer service from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, etc... The rooms are not large but have been recently updated and are very nice for a deluxe resort. You can easily skip a day at the parks and find tons to do at the Lodge with or without children. I would recommend the Wilderness Lodge to everyone it is a home away from home. (Hint: request a woods view room on the Magic Kingdom side higher floor and you can see the fireworks from your hotel balcony.)
We had been upgraded here after POR was overbooked. I thought that the room was great, nice amenities, plenty of room and it came with a refrigerator when at the time POR did not. I think the resort is way too big especially with young kids and the bus service seemed to take forever. I was not impressed with the dining options and had a horrible experience at Olivia's. To be fair, this was a trip that had multiple problems and it could have clouded my perception of the resort.
I'm a senior citizen and brought my two grown sons and 13 and 17 year old grandchildren to Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed Garden View, Alligator Bay and had a wonderful vacation. Everything was perfect! Would recommend Port Orleans to everyone. Staff was very efficient, friendly and Disney took care of all our needs. Food was good, too. We went swimming, fishing and took the boat rides. Buses were always timely to everywhere we wanted to go. We had no problems. Overall, we would stay at Port Orleans again in a heartbeat!
As a frequent Disney visitor I have stayed at on Disney property many times. Having stayed here a few years ago I found it to be quite a large resort which felt very spread out and took a while to get around. The theme of the resort is well done and the rooms were spacious and well decorated. The pool area is large and a must do for children of all ages.
As a frequent Disney traveller I have stayed at this resort three times throughout my childhood. Now an adult of 25 I look back at the resort with fond memories and would recommend it to anyone travelling with children. The resort is quite spacious with each area being themed around a different movie. Each time we visited the resort we stayed at in the Toy story area. Having your picture taken by Woody and Buzz or sat in RC is a fantastic experience for children and will have them in awe at the sheer size of the figures. The pool area is well themed and large enough to hold the many resort guests. There are lots of amenities for children and adults including a bar area and shop. The dining hall is large and offers a range of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It can get very noisy but this is to be expected at busier times. The resort is quite far away from many of the theme parks however the Disney buses are provided. I would recommend this resort to any family with young children who love everything Disney!
I have stayed at the POR 3 times with the latest stay being Easter 2013.Each of the three times has been with my family who are all aged between 47 and 22. The resort is beautiful, set in beautiful grounds with a tranquil atmosphere. Each time we have stayed at the resort we have stayed in the Magnolia Bend building 85. The mansion style buildings are grand and create the perfect backdrop against the river. The rooms are spacious and are decorated well to meet the theme of this part of the resort. The rooms have two double beds, fridge,small table and chairs, storage, en-suite with bath, shower, toilet and two sinks. Having stayed in these rooms last time with three adults there is enough space and storage to hold the clothes, Disney purchases and baggage of three women! The Alligator Bayou section of the resort is nice however not of my families taste, suited I believe to families with young children. The dinning area is large and has food for all taste. We have eaten here for many breakfasts and have never found a problem. Travelling at Easter ( Spring Break) can mean busy queuing but this is to be expected. The shop is stocked with everything you may need and the bar area both inside and by the pool are worth a visit. There are a number of pool areas around the resort, we have always used the smaller pool near Magnolia bend for a quieter swim. The resort provides two methods of transport, the Disney buses and the boat to Downtown Disney. The Boat is a must do, it provides a scenic, peaceful route to Downtown Disney with a chance to take a nosey at some of the things along the river. The buses are frequent with 4 bus stops around the resort area, we always used the one closet to our room and never waited more than 20 minutes for a bus. I love Disney and would return every year if funds allowed, returning to POR is a pleasure and is a highlight to any Disney trip. As a family who are now all adults, the laid back atmosphere is a welcome break to what can sometimes be a busy trip in a fantastic place.
My wife and I stayed here in back in 2009. We have since returned to Disney but tried several of the other resorts. We returned to the All Star Music in February, 2013 and will be staying again on September 25, 2013. The reason-the Staff. They are the dictionary meaning for professional, curteous, prompt, precise, family. My wife and I will never stay anywhere else. Yes, the rooms are small but as I spend the whole day at the Parks-who notices. I am out like a light in five minutes once my head hits the pillow. The food court in the moring is busy, so we spend time talking to those in line with us. It is all part of the fun of Disney World. Besides, I dream of those Mickey waffles every day. The pool during the afternoon is full of activities. We love to watch the children having fun. Sometimes we get back eartly just to enjoy the movies on the pool deck. I have never had a problem with my stay and wish I could return more often. I jokingly told my wife if we won it big in the lottery I would move down here, book a couple of adjoing rooms and stay forever at this resort. She told me that it wasn't as bad of an idea as I thought. After a week here, I return to the hustle and bustle of daily life totally refreshed and full of happy memories. What more could anyone ask for.
If you are traveling with children under the age of 10 then this is the resort for you. The kids love the atmosphere and your wallet will love the price. We stayed a week and knowing that we were not going there to sit in the room we opted to stay here versus a higher priced option. I was pleasantly surprised with the area, it was Disney but yet it was quiet. The kids loved the oversized props and all the Disney-related materials and are honestly disappointed we are not staying there on this trip (at POR-FQ this time). The rooms were nothing to write home about but if you travel to Disney for the view from or size of the hotel room then your priorities are way off.
Arrival and check in. We arrived at about 11:30am for our check in at the resort. You will find the lobby very spacious, with an enormous check in desk. There was a short line of maybe 10 families checking in. Check in was swift and completed with 20 minutes, this included a brief orientation to the hotel and WDW, which was not necessary being my 40th trip. We were congratulated on our marriage and given Just Married buttons to wear. They took my phone number to text me when our room was ready. Less than an hour later while eating at Downtown Disney, we received the text stating our room was ready. We had received our early check in as requested. The room: The room was moderately sized, but spacious given we had a King sized bed. We needed extra pillows and towels, and a call to housekeeping solved that within 10 minutes. The room was spotlessly clean, with plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage. We did not spend much time in the room, but it was very nice and the bed was comfortable. Our room was in the 50's building with the bowling pin shaped pool almost directly below it. Even though the pool was there, you could barely hear noise outside the room even with screaming children outside. The grounds: The lobby as stated, was huge, and very clean. The resort shop had your sundries available, and this is where we purchased our refillable mug, and lanyard for our room keys/passes. The restaurant is very large, and while sometimes crowded, never packed even at breakfast time. The grounds were very nicely kept, and clean with many Cast Members about doing regular maintenance, all were extremely polite. The Bowling Pin pool was very nice, clean and well maintained and staffed with life guards during the day. Next to the pool was the laundry area which we used while in the pool during our breaks from the parks. Customer service: While a value resort the customer service we received was exemplary. My main thing to remind is, Concierge is your best friend. This is the place to go with questions and any problems that arise. I had an incident with my meal due to a dietary issue. Not only was the issue resolved quickly, but the dining points were put where they were supposed to have been. This dining point issue, was the only issue we had, and I feel that even though the issue happened, it was resolved in about 5 minutes and done so with speed and skill to rival a 5 star hotel. Location: Really nice. Minutes from Downtown Disney even in traffic. Right around the corner from the Studios and Epcot. Easy access to the highway system as well as the internal Disney roadways. We give it max stars.
We have purchased over 1300 points over several years, some through the secondary market. Our resorts are Wilderness, Vero Beach, Bay Lake, Animal kingdom, Aulani, Boardwalk and Old Key West. We have stayed at all of them several times. In the last 16 months, I figured out that we used over 50 days at Disney resorts, mostly for us but also gave about 12 days to friends and family. Assuming an average of about $500 a night, since our two bedroom at Aulani for 15 days would have cost over $2000 a night alone, the 3 bedroom cottage at Vero Beach for three nights would have cost about $700 a night, and 4 nights in a one bedroom club level at Animal Kingdom would have been $600 or more, I would estimate we have gotten well over $30000 in value for these nights and probably more. For about 10000 in maintenance fees, I consider that a good value. Obviously you have to use your points, but we are at Disney at least 3 times a year, so it is totally worth it to us.
I have stayed at all of the value resorts except Art of Animation and Movies is my second favorite. (behind Pop Century) We drove so I did not take advantage of Disney's Magical Express but my Mom did and had a great experience. Checking in was no hassle and we even checked in early and our room was ready by noon. Once we arrived we were able to get some pool towels from the front desk and head over to the pool. My son and I even grabbed a late breakfast from the food court and ate outside. There were free pool activities most of the day and they even gave out candy and small prizes. The room was very clean but it was showing a little wear. No problems with the AC but it wasn't that hot outside since it was raining. We were in the Love Bug building which was not super close to the main hall where the bus transportation was. I still think the layout is slightly better than All Star Music and Sports so you don't feel like you are walking as far. Overall I am a fan of staying at a value resort. The rooms are always very clean and you save money. Only complaint this time was the tour groups staying at the resort. There were unsupervised kids everywhere. Once they were out of the way and at the park it was better. I would stay again but I always prefer staying in the off season.
Just returned from our 6 night 7 day stay ( August 1-August 7) the resort was BEAUTIFUL. The check in and check out was quick and easy. We stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms, the walk was not bad at all the theme scenery was beautiful. I have had longer walks in other resorts. The food was good and reasonably priced. The two pools were nice but the Big Blue Pool is more kid friendly. Every one who worked there was helpful and courteous, they were really attentive to my 4 year old grandaughter she is the type that asks lots of questions. The Disney bus wait was not long at all, the longest we ever waited was 10 minutes and the drivers were great. I even forgot something in the safe called them this morning and it is being sent by UPS. I would stay here again in a heartbeat !!
My family has stayed in the cabins a few times. What we like most is the privacy, peace and quiet, and the "yard" for kids to play outside. It's also convenient to have a kitchen for our mid-day breaks. Also, very economical. The only reason(s) I didn't give it a perfect score are the limited dining options and the pools. Hoopty Doo is fantastic, but that only covers dinner for one night. A "real" counter service option is the only thing the resort is missing in my mind. And the pools aren't themed like the others, it's just a pool. The internal bus system isn't bad, just depends on what time of day you hit it. If you can beat the rush, it's quick and you're guaranteed a seat.
We spent a week at the BLT in a two bedroom unit. There were 8 of us and it was spacious, contemporary and very very comfortable. It was my grandchildren's first trip to Disney World and we enjoyed everything from breakfast with the characters at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary, to dinner with the Princesses at Cinderella's Castle. The pool was fun and when we come back again, we won't bother going to one of the water parks, because the pool was all we needed. We had a beautiful view of the Magic Kingdom and watched the fireworks display from our unit some nights. Every night, I went to sleep watching Cinderella's Castle change colors. What a wonderful trip. We are trying to book another for next year. I highly recommend the Bay Lake Tower.
We've stayed numerous times at The Pop Century and have never been disappointed. The theme is totally Disney, and we love its whimsical character. The resort has 3 pools of which each is themed for its particular section. There is the Computer Pool in the 1990's section, the Bowling Pin pool in the 1950's section and our favorite, the Hippy Dippy Pool in the 1960's section. The pools seem to be maintained at a very good temperature year round. The one thing we don't particularly enjoy are the hovering bees. Regardless of where we sit by the pool, those little bees come buzzing around and sometimes get too close for comfort. The food court offers plenty of choices and we enjoy the ambience as we have our meal. The rooms are well kept as are the main areas. We love taking a stroll around the hour glass lake. The gift shop is always fun to visit with a decent selection of items to shop for. The bus service is excellent. We definitely feel as we have arrived home each time. It is our resort of choice.
Stayed there for a college trip with 8 of my friends from college. Food court was great and had plenty of options. room was very clean and well kept. bags were all delivered right on time. The main pool was very well themed and even though we were in college had a blast on the water slide. Transportation: There was only one instance on one day (out of 8) where we waited for 45+ min for a magic kingdom bus. Other then that, buses were quick and only made stops at the one hotel then right to the park. Cons: I didn't like the actual size of the resort. depending on where your room was, it was a hike to get to the food court, bus stops, main pool, and lobby. I expect a lot of walking at WDW but some times nice when you get back to the room to have things really close and rest the feet some.
WHAT LOCATION WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FANTASIA AREA OR 101 DALMATIONS
We are a family of 5. Kids ages range from 13 yrs, 9 yrs, and 23 months. We stayed in the Finding Nemo family suite . We went down to celebrate our almost 2 year olds birthday. Everyone was soo attentive to her. After reading some reviews I was afraid of what we might get. We stayed July 12th -July 19th 2013. Check in was easy, everyone was really nice and helpful with any questions we had. The Resort was soo kid friendly and all 3 of my girls loved it. The was plenty of food choices and the food was good. The only thing we had a problem with was that we had to call the front desk a few times to get a refill on coffee and little things like that. But our overall stay was wonderful and would soo consider coming back.
Let me start off with saying this resort is beautiful. My wife and I went on our honeymoon to disney and stayed here. It is very large and scenic, perfect for taking nightly strolls along the river. Great food court for a breakfast or lunch (would not recommend for dinners). The main pool was nice but very crowded with bratty kids, but on the upside there are side pools all over, one was right outside our room and they are usually empty or have 2-3 people there (at least on our experience). It seemed perfect until we tried going to the parks. We thought wow we are right by a bus depot for the parks, we quickly found out it that spot was the last pickup, they stopped at french quarter first then every stop in riverside before they hit ours. If we could fit in, we were standing very uncomfortably and on more then one occasion the buses ac was not on! So we figure we would just take the very long walk to the main depot and was pretty much packed everytime we went. There is no close park to this resort so every trip took forever. We left an hour an 15 min. a head of our reservation for sci dine in theater at hollywood, and was late to our reservation! Luckily they still could fit us in but we had to wait an additional 40 min because we were late! The boat to downtown disney also took forever. I don't know if this was just an isolated incident bc we only rode it once but we sat at the french quarter on the boat for a half hour waiting to fill up the boat. In conclusion, was a very nice resort but for the fact that we did not get to a park once with out an issue is why I am giving this resort a lousy rating. After all I am paying this much to be mainly at the parks not the hotel!
Nice theme - very quiet resort. Grounds were beautiful and relaxing.
We had a 2 bedroom suite at the Bay Lake Towers. We had a group of 9. It had plenty of room and bathrooms! We were a group with grandma, grandkids, boyfriends, girlfriend so needed a space where we would all not be "sharing" too much and this worked perfectly! It also had a laundry unit so made grandma happy. We had a lake view on an upper floor and the view was gorgeous! The table in the kitchen worked perfect for games for the younger ones and snacks. We all really enjoyed our stay here.
I have stayed here 2 times - found the rooms to be big and really pretty. Liked that we could walk to Epcot in a matter of minutes. The pool is also cool and the water slide was popular with the kids. I did not like having to go to the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast/coffee/drinks.. it was crowded (I think they have remodeled since our stay) and a pain to get in and out quickly. We ate at the Big River Grille and enjoyed the food and the choices of beers. Night time can be fun on the boardwalk also with the "street performers" when you would like to slow down and just relax and people watch..:)
It has been a few years since we have stayed at the GF and although it is a beautiful resort it just wasn't for us. We stayed at club level and the food was a tad too foofoo for us - maybe we are just too redneck? Would rather eat at other resort restaurants also.
We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in 2012 a couple weeks before Christmas. It was absolutely beautiful! The HUGE tree in the lobby is just amazing! The resort has such a warm cozy feel and it was just perfect for the holiday. We stayed on the club level and the food was good - seating a little 'tricky' for a party of 5 sometimes but we managed. Whispering Canyon is always a good time and good food. We don't mind the boat rides to MK -matter of fact find it relaxing.
Our family has stayed at the Poly club level a couple times and it is our family favorite of all resorts. Once they pick you up on the cart and take you to your check in desk you know you are on VACATION! I love the feel you are somewhere exotic and beautiful. The music that plays around the grounds in the evenings is relaxing also. We stay on the ground level, sit outside, enjoy the water show, fireworks, you name it..it just doesn't get much better. The food choices at the Poly are also fantastic. You can get a Dole Whip softserve at the quick serve! But our favorite is Kona Café! Once my son and I just stopped in for dessert for my birthday - yum! The waterslide at the pool is good as well as the waterfall. We have never been disappointed at the Poly..:) I will be retiring in 3 years and already saving my money for my "retirement" vacation to the Poly resort!
We stayed at AKL - Jambo House June 9th to June 13th, the second half of our vacation. The luggage transfer was seamless. We were Magically upgraded from a standard view to a savanna view, which was a very nice surprise. We were in room 3283 on the Kudu Trail with the Sunset Savanna view. The room was beautiful, just like all the pictures we've seen. Being there in June was problematic in that the resort and room were cold but external temperature was really humid and hot. The room quickly warmed up with our constant opening the balcony door. Maybe this is just me, and maybe this is due to the humidity, but the carpet seemed a little damp. The bathroom was nice and had a shelf above the two sinks. I loved the wall paper. The water closet was small, and the light couldn’t be used without the fan. As others say, it was a little dark. A good variety of animals greeted us and hung around most of the time. Between Kidani and our room (to the left) was a backstage working area of AKL. While on the balcony, we always heard a low drone from whatever machinery was there, but it was OK. Sometimes, the work being done was a little louder, but the animals didn’t seem to mind. The lobby is absolutely beautiful, and all the art and artifacts are amazing. The CMs are out and about with hands-on educational and fun activities. SO cool. The décor is totally what we wanted, and AKL delivers. Disney planned the savannah viewing areas behind the pool very well, along with the posts with the animal information and facts. We didn’t eat at the Mara, but I went in one morning to get a cup of coffee. It was nice, clean, well-stocked and well laid out. The coffee was good, by the way. It is in the perfect location right near the pool. The pool area was great. The slide was fun, and the landscaping was lush. We ate dinner at Boma one evening. Everything was great. My only real downer was the bus wait times. I was ready for the trips to the Parks to take a little longer, and that was OK. It seemed that the Park we chose that day always had a long wait for the bus. It was too bad for us that we didn’t use the “whichever bus came first” method of Park decision. I would stay at AKL again in a heartbeat.
My family and I stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort in 2011 and were very impressed with the overall experience. The pool area is very well laid out and comfortable for all ages. We were very impressed with the staff having poolside activities for the families and how much fun we had. There is a small bar for refreshments within walking distance to the pool gates. When we went into the main area of the resort for lunch and shopping, we expected it to be a simple basic chow line and a small little gift shop. We were pleasantly surprised to see how wrong we really were. It is very spacious, open, and comfortable for all ages. The rooms themselves weren't bad but I can't say they were perfect. I wasn't a fan of the beds only being double sized at the time. They were way too small for full grown adults who are used to king sized beds (I know, a little spoiled). The kids (who were 7 and 13 at the time) weren't too uncomfortable but I know they would have preferred a little more room. My biggest complaint about the entire resort is the transportation system in place. Unfortunately, the only way to or from Caribbean Beach is by the bus system. They are very inconsistent with their schedule and a 30 to 45 minute wait was not uncommon. I do think that the entire transportation system needs a major overhaul and that monorail expansion should be seriously considered. All in all, Caribbean Beach Resort is a very nice, comfortable resort for a family with younger kids and is worth the money.
I went to the All-star Movies Resort during Spring Break with some friends. The resort is kept up nicely. The concierge staff is very nice. We were in a room in the Fantasia 2000. The room has all of your necessities you need. The only issue with the room was that the refrigerator wasn't plugged in. We didn't notice this when I put some milk in there one night and the next day had to throw away the milk. The buses were very efficient. We were able to get to the parks before rope drop each day. The buses were not shared with the other All-Star resorts. It's a good value resort for guests planning to stay in the parks all day.
We stayed at CSR June 5th to June 9th before switching resorts. From check in to leaving the Resort, our stay was great. We arrived in the evening and checked in with a very sweet and helpful CM from France. He pulled our reservation immediately and showed me that we were placed in Casitas. I told him we requested Ranchos to which he replied, "But this is a preferred room." I took their room placement and his response as trying to be as kind and well meaning, but I told him we wanted to be near the Dig Site Pool. He immediately called and had us moved into Ranchos Bldg. 7B in Room 7668. We didn't eat at Pepper Market or at Maya Grill. It was pretty, clean and comfortable, around the corner from the stairs and very near the Cabanas (I think) bus stop which is exactly what we wanted. The grounds were well maintained. Once we understood the lay of the land, getting around was easy for us. The buses were prompt most of the time (but late buses can happen anywhere), and the Resort is centrally located so that drive time was minimal to the Parks. The Resort is beautiful, and I would recommend it highly to anyone.
My family and I stayed at BLT in June of 2012, and it was one of the best stays we've ever had at a Disney Resort. Like any resort, there are some pluses and minuses. Now the minuses will never effect my decision of wether or not to stay here, but they are something that may make you go out of your way or take couple of extra minutes. PLUSES: -Quiet, Relaxing Atmosphere( with a fruity smell) -Great Proximity to the Magic Kingdom, Monorail or Walking. -Excellent Pool area with a really cool slide. -You can make your room like a meat locker (65 degrees) DVC MEMBER BONUS: Access to the Top of the World Lounge!!! MINUSES: -EVERYTHING is in the Contemporary A-Frame Tower, which means even to refill your mug could end up being a lengthy walk -Extremely high point value, almost 500 pts. for a week -It can feel like your the only one in the resort, it's that large I hope I provided you all with good info on BLT, any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I can't rave about this hotel enough! The location, pool, food, rooms, everything is excellent. I can't believe anyone would want to stay anywhere else (ok maybe you could argue the convenience of a monrail resort with a view of the castle...). This hotel is the best...hands down!
I had a work conference here last year. I couldn't recommend the Yacht Club enough! The rooms are amazing (my view was of trees/garden area but it was still lovely), clean, wonderful. The smell in this hotel is amazing! I don't know what they pump into the lobby but I love it! So many food options and Stormalong Bay is great. So nice to be able to walk to two parks and the Boardwalk. Its quite expensive but you are paying for convenience!
Stayed in a studio in late October 2012. Was the room a little dated? Sure but it was clean, convenient to two parks, had a great pool, excellent dining options. So for all of that I can deal with the rooms being a little dated. I have a 3 year old daughter and Stormalong Bay was a little overwhelming for her so it was nice to be able to walk to the quiet pool at the Villas in a minute and relax there with her. Plus the free laundry in the villas is great as well!
Stayed at theWL for one night in 2012. Can't say I was a huge fan. The boats weren't a fast way to get to the MK, the bus service wasn't that great (granted I know a lot of hotels suffer now with service that is not as great as it was 5 years ago), and our room was very dark and dim. However, the quick service (Roaring Forks) was awesome and so was the pool. It really is a beautiful hotel but just not quite my speed.
One of the best hotels on property. Great staff, great rooms, great transportation, great dining. I have stayed on all of the hotels in MK area, and these one is my favorite, tied with the contemporary. The hotel is cosy, very inviting, comfortable. Highly recommended.
Stay there in 2012, had better expectations, the room was in really bad shape. Kona cafe made our stay much better with it's coffee and tonga toast, liked the theme and the smell of the main building. CM's friendly and helpful.
Stay there in 2010. The rooms are great, restaurants are really good, walking distance to the MK, chef Micke's in house, monorail inside the building; what can you ask for.
Staying at the Beach Club is ideal for anyone who has ever run for a bus after Illuminations. The charmingly themed hotel is a 5 minute walk to Epcot, and a 15 minute walk to the Studios. Either way, it is a shorter walk to the parks than some of the bus stops I've stayed at in the park. Staff is friendly and acommodating for questions, ticket issues or ways to enjoy your vacation. The location is outstanding for families with older kids who can take off on their own, and then reunite later in the day. Great proximity to the Boardwalk area as well, including restuarants, entertainment and a sports club. There is a small grocery store with all types of items, and the entertainers are charming. Food choices from pizza and burgers, to brew fare, to top of the line steaks. The pool is simply amazing, and one of the best I've seen anywhere. I've stayed at many on-site hotels, and while I like Port Orleans and the Boardwalk, this one is the best.
It was all about the location that got us hooked on the Beach Club. We have spent four trips and one to come in November and all but the first (Contemporary) was at the Beach Club. We love the easy walk to Epcot and the stroll along the walking path to our favorite park DHS. It is great to spend the day parking with the family and then spend an hour with the wife at the Big River Grille for a nightcap!
We are planning our 4th trip to WDW for February 2014 and are planning to stay at FW Cabins - AGAIN. We did consider a deluxe resort and then changed our minds back to the cabins. We love the seclusion and quietness of the resort. Not hearing loud t.v.'s and room doors slamming at all hours. We love seeing the animals like armidillos, deer, etc. We have been reading other reviews and are disappointed in others opinions about transportation (internal and external). We have been here in November and in February. The most we ever waited for an internal resort bus was 10-15 minutes maximum. The most we ever waited for a bus to go to parks, etc. was 20-30 minutes; and the 30 minutes only happened in February during winter recess time. Again, we don't think this is a bad amount of time to wait. If it is taking hours then people must not be reading bus signs and getting on the correct buses. Also, time seems to be much longer when you are tired after a long day or even anxious at the beginning of the day and wanting to get the the parks. You are on vacation; relax. Not everything needs to be instant gratification.
The guest areas were all pristine and the Broadway area, where we stayed, was amazing at night! The pools looked like fun and areas around them kept very nice! (we stayed 1/26/13 to 1/29/13 so swimming wasn't an option because it was cold out) The lobby was nice with some iconic stars on the walls, but the lobby and food court areas could definitely be refurbished with some lights out and needed paint. The letters outside the resort were painted during our stay so they ended up looking great upon departure! The three caballeros were out for refurb as well but maintenance is understandable. Bus service was great except for the rare occasion the All Stars shared a bus line. Our room was nice and came with a flat screen and fridge that was very handy. The food in the food court was great and very tasty (loved the cheese steak sandwich), however ambiance for that area did meet the expectations set by the rest of the resort. All cast we came into contact with was very friendly and did the most to make our stay magical! :)
We stayed at AoA from May 3- May 5 as we're local so this was just a staycation but we had a blast! The theming was exceptional especially for a value! We stayed in the Little Mermaid section and having our own personal quiet pool was great during the busier times for the Nemo pool! Maintenance was exceptional as one lamppost had gone out during our stay but the next night it was fixed! Landscaping was second to none as all garden areas were kept trimmed and mulch/crushed shell off the sidewalks. The room was large enough and every piece of furniture was themed. Nice new flat screen TV and a fridge in the dresser. (Especially loved the print on the curtain to cut off the bathroom!) The food court served fresh food, but we did wish it stayed open a little later. The first night we made it into the pool I ducked my head under water and was surprised to hear music at 12:30 AM and it was at that point I realized they played music under water! Awesome touch! (Heard the soundtrack for Finding Nemo the musical playing!) The courtyard for Cars was really cool at night but Lion King stood out in the day! The caves under the Elephant Graveyard were a pleasant surprise as well as the constant mist it provided. Bus service to and from the Resort was exceptional and I would for sure recommend this resort! Oh and be sure to bring your camera plenty of photo ops!
We have stayed at All Star Music resort on four separate occasions, three of which were in an All Star Family Suite. We love this resort! There is lush landscaping in and around the resort that hides all the parking lots when you are in and around the resort. I will start with a review of the family suites, they have a master bedroom with a queen sized bed, nightstands, dresser, television, desk, and a chair. There is ample space to move about the room and to store your "stuff". Outside of the master bedroom is a galley-style kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator, small coffee maker, small sink and shelving. Plastic-ware and paper plates are usually provided by mousekeeping; however, for an extended stay I would pack some of your own. The main living area has a sofa, chair, and ottoman that all convert to sleeping. There is also a larger dresser, tv, small table and chair for dining. One of the best features in the suite is the fact that there are two bathrooms. The sinks are located outside of the bathroom with a privacy curtain and lots of hanging space. We have stayed with four adults in the suites and have had plenty of space. The suites are located in the Calypso and Jazz sections, so they are relatively close to the main building. My one and only standard room stay I found the room to be of an adequate size as I was traveling alone. I would not like to try to stay in a standard room with more than two adults, it would just be too cramped for space. The standard rooms also have the privacy curtain in the bathroom sink area. Both pool areas of the resort are nice sized and kept exceptionally clean. In the main hall you will find guest services, dining, arcade, and shopping. We really enjoy the meal selection at All Star Music. They have a nice dinner selection that include baked chicken, flank steak, roast turkey; as well as the standard burgers & pizza fare. The dinner meals do tend to rotate in selection. The "make your own salad" station is not to be missed if you are a salad lover! Warning, you will not go hungry with the meals. My husband and I will share our meals from the food court because there is usually just too much food. So if you are staying in the suites I would pack some plastic food bags to handle leftovers. One night we both ordered the baked chicken dinner, which is a half of a chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll. We both saved half of our chicken for lunch the next day. Buses, the All Star resorts have taken a bad rep at times for sharing buses with the other two All Star resorts. This does not occur as often as you would think, but it can happen. Our four stays totaled 21 days and during those times we shared a bus four times. The nice thing about the proximity of the other All Star resorts is that if you want to leave a park and there is a bus going to another All Star you can easily hop that bus and take a quick walk to All Star Music resort.
We have stayed two times at Fort Wilderness Campground with our 29 Foot travel trailer and full-sized pick-up truck. The campsites are very nice with adequate spacing to the sides of the site. Our first stay in Sept 2010 we were in site 124 and had plenty of space for the rig, truck, and golf cart with room to spare behind the rig. We found adequate camping supplies at the stores, although there was a difference of selection between the Settlement and Meadows Trading Post. If you have forgotten something for the rig or need a replacement I would suggest checking the Meadows Trading Post first. Our second stay at "the fort" was in May of 2011. Our initial assignment for a site was in the 100 loop but due to the length of our rig and the angle of the site there was no way that our rv and truck were going to make it into the site. A cast member observed our difficulties and phoned the front desk for us. We were assigned another site - all without our asking him too! Our second assignment was in the 200 loop with a very nice site that backed up to the canal. We rented a golf cart on both trips, but do find it somewhat pricey. You do not have to rent a cart to enjoy your stay. There are three bus routes that take you from the loops to the settlement and to the outpost for transportation to the parks. These buses run continuously during the day and evening and usually only a few minutes wait. There are walking/bike trails that will get you to anywhere you want to be at the fort within just a few moments. So if you don't mind a few bugs and really enjoy the outdoors Fort Wilderness is the place for you!
When regarding the best WDW resorts, we usually hear about the Polynesian or Grand Floridian. However, Fort Wilderness is the ideal resort for a family staying in WDW looking to expand their vacation to more than just parks. With endless activities accompanied by beautiful scenery and fantastic food just a golf cart ride away, this resort is certainly a must. Firstly, you cannot overlook the quality of the cabins at Fort Wilderness. However, you must keep in mind that housing any more than 5 people would most likely not be enjoyable. These cabins somehow make the guests feel at home at the same time as giving the luxurious vacation feel. The privacy is definitely a favorable aspect of these cabins. In addition, the beautiful, rustic decor (that is similar to the Wilderness Lodge) really enhances the Disney feel. Having a kitchen is always a plus. Having the ability to store ample amount of left overs and snacks is very practical. During my stay, my family and I had the luxury of eating a home cooked meal one night including steaks that we made on the grill outside the cabin. The cabin itself was a very positive attribute of our stay at Fort Wilderness. To specify, staying in the cabin was an extraordinary experience. Though this is true, the stay was made by everything beyond the cabin at the resort. To begin, the food options at Fort Wilderness are second to none. First, there is Crockett's Tavern which is an exceptional quick service eatery decked out in westernized decorations that serves delicious pizza as well as wings. This is a very authentic place where you can get wonderful sweet tea in a mason jar. Next, is the all you can eat buffet, Trail's End. Serving all your southern comfort foods including fried chicken and ribs, this attraction should not be missed. Last but certainly not least is the infamous Hoop Dee Doo which is by far my favorite attraction/restaurant in the entire 43 square miles of WDW. With the best fried chicken you will ever sink your teeth into while witnessing the most comical performance you may ever see, THE HOOP DEE DOO CANNOT BE MISSED whether you are staying in the Orlando Hilton or Fort Wilderness. Top that off with a delectable strawberry shortcake and it is an amazing night. Lastly, there are the other activities that can be found at Fort Wilderness. You will have access to a beautiful pool that includes a huge water slide. There are also several recreational activities that vary daily. A personal favorite of mine happens to be the campfire with Chip n Dale. Once it gets dark, there will be a Disney movie projected onto a large screen that can be viewed from log benches around a roaring campfire and kids roasting marshmallows. You will be able to purchase snacks like popcorn and hot cocoa. Chip n Dale hang out and play there as well. It is awesome to have characters right on the resort grounds. All around, this is a fabulous experience. Another fun nighttime experience is being able to watch the Electric Water Pageant while laying on a lounge chair on the Fort Wilderness Beach. I know you must be wondering how big this resort is but there's even more. Fort Wilderness also offers horseback riding. No experience necessary, this is an incomparable experience that is hard to obtain anywhere else. To conclude, the Fort Wilderness experience is unmatched. From renting boats and bikes to resort wide wiffle ball tournaments and three legged races, there is something for everyone. After exploring the many adventures that make up the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground it will be hard to believe that there are four theme parks and two water parks beyond this campus.
We opted for Disney all star music resort for a great stay , it indeed would have been but didn't turned out that way. The reason being...their AC ..aging AC I guess. It just wouldn't cool our room, tht too after coming back tired from parks, you expect the room to be cool , but it wasn't and even if we changed the settings the temp stayed at 76 F...on hot and humid nights. We couldn't get proper sleep. Moreover even after complaining they just changed the filter at 11.30 pm. On second day we complained again around 1Am and they asked what we wanted ,wait or transfer to another room in the middle of night. We asked them to attend the problem the next day but again there were no signs of this happening ..we came fom MK at 1 am and were just so tired and frustrated. The reason why I am stressing on the AC , is bcos we all need good sleep to enjoy the park next day early morning, that didn't happen. I would suggest you check in at day time and stay in your room for an hour or two and if your room has problem report it immediately or get it changed.
clean-quiet-picturesque-tasty-fulfilling.
Beach Club really can't be beat for fans of Epcot! We (2 adults and 2 kids) stayed in a studio villa from 6/2-6/9, and really enjoyed this resort. The room was small and honestly nothing special, but we were quite comfortable. The proximity to International Gateway, DHS, and the pool made our stay worth every penny. Park hoppers are a must when staying here, as we loved being able to stroll into World Showcase in the evenings for dinner. On-site dining options are fantastic between the Beach and Yacht Club and Boardwalk area. We loved Beaches and Cream for dinner and (too many) desserts, and Hurricane Hannah's was great for a pool-side meal. Stormalong Bay is incredible! We literally had to drag our kids away from the pool to go to the parks! The walk to Hollywood Studios took exactly 20 minutes, which is about how long the ferry boat took as well. A few things that could use improvement: the villas rooms are outdated and need a refurb, the interior hallways are poorly soundproofed, and they really need more Beach Club merchandise in the Marketplace. Overall, we loved this resort and will absolutely stay here again!
First off, the grounds of the Coronado Springs Resort are fabulous and the rooms were on par with the rooms we have had at other Disney resorts. Where my disappointment lies is with the Pepper Market and the way they handle the Quick Service Dining Plans. We have previously stayed at the Caribbean Resort and Port Orleans. We always get the Quick Service Dining Plan which generally works in the following manner: You enter the dining area and there are several stations with different types of food ranging from pasta/pizza to sandwiches and burgers and even steak and chicken. You pick your meal a desert and a beverage and then you go through the check out line where the appropriate number of meals are deducted from your meal plan. The food in the past has been awesome. With custom gourmet burgers and freshly prepared pasta dishes to name a few. There are also multiple beverage bars throughout the dining hall to refill you cup with. Well we have just returned from 7 nights at the Coronado Springs and the dining was the worst I've ever experienced. First off, you have to wait to be seated somewhere within the dining area. So you have no say in where you will sit. They also tend to clump you in certain areas depending on their staffing level. So if you eat in the evening after a day at the park you will likely get seated in a corner of the dining hall with 5 other families at the tables around you while the rest of the dining hall sits empty. You then get a card to go to the individual stations to get your food. Each station appears to be staffed by one individual unlike at the other resorts we've stayed at where the appropriate staffing levels are maintained. It took my daughter 20 minutes to get a simple fettuccine alfredo. It also doesn't appear that people from other stations can step in and lend a hand if their individual station isn't busy at the moment. I didn't have a single "fresh" meal any of the times we ate at the Pepper Market as some portion of it had been made ahead of time. At the burrito station the cook pre-made about 5 orders of quesadillas while he was making my burrito and then set them plated on the grill. While I was waiting for my burrito (about 10 minutes) someone came up and ordered a quesadilla and the cook gave him one that had been sitting on the grill for the past 10 minutes. One other night after we got caught in a downpour at Hollywood Studios we came back to the hotel and instead of drag soaking wet kids to the dining hall we ordered 2 pizzas to take back to the room. They made the supreme fine but forgot to make the cheese so they made it and took it into the back room to use some other type of oven. Needless to say, the crust wasn't cooked all the way nor was the cheese and it was barely warm at all. The biggest insult though of the dining at the Pepper Market comes when you are presented your bill. Your server, who up to this point has maybe brought you a drink since there aren't any self-service drink stations in the dining area, will bring you your bill. Remember that the food is priced high since it is a resort with the bill averaging $50 - $60 for a family of 4. Well on the bill is the suggested gratuity of 20% or 28%. I find this disgusting since the server has basically only brought a few drinks. Remember that YOU have to go to the food stations and order your food and wait while it is prepared and then bring it back to your table. One night I sent my receipt with no tip as I had planned on leaving a cash tip of a few dollar but not the suggested 20+%. The waitress had the gall to bring back the ticket and point out that I had neglected to indicate the tip. I seriously hope that the rest of the Disney resorts have not gone to this style of dining because if they have we will probably stay off property in the future.
First time I have ever stayed at a DW resort for a family vacation. Check-in was fast and smooth and all staff was very friendly. Rooms were clean and comfortable for a Moderate Resort. Never made it to the lobby to fill the complimentary refill mugs because I was located in Cabana 8B and I wasn't willing to walk or get the car just to fill up a mug of coffee every morning. Pool was beautiful and the kids loved it. I found it to me well located centrally to all the parks to make it convenient to bounce around from park-to-park every day for a week. Would absolutely stay there again.
This hotel is just like the Disney Deluxe resorts but much more affordable. Our family has stayed here on numerous vacations and will continue to go back. Yes, there are fees that they assess that other Disney resorts do not, but the price is still less than the Deluxe Disney hotels. There are many restaurants to eat at, including Picabu (which is where we ate most of our breakfasts), Garden Grove (that has character breakfast on Saturday and Sundays only), and the Cabana Pool Bar that has wonderful sandwiches that we often ate for lunch and/or dinner. The rooms are large and come with a small refrigerator that came in handy as we stopped at the food store before we checked in. I love the decor of the beautiful lobby, hallways and rooms. The grounds are so lush and beautiful you really feel like you're on an island somewhere. The grotto pool is spectacular and well maintained and it is one of my favorite things about the hotel. All the staff are upbeat and very helpful. I have never had any problems with this hotel. I will always return to the Dolphin, happily :)
CSR is a family favorite. The atmosphere is fantastic! Nothing like a nice stroll around Lago Dorado in the early morning to watch the sun rise. I suppose many people complain about the "size" of CSR. Honestly, you do way more walking in WDW than you think. If walking is a problem, rent a scooter. This may be a resort for the more 'health conscious' guest as frequently in the morning you see people utilizing the walk-ways for jogging/running/walking. The rooms are CSR are big! You even get privacy doors between the bedroom and bathroom. No cheap curtain like at the other moderates! I have rarely, if ever heard other guests from inside any room I have stayed at. Once, when I was on the ground floor, I heard a kid running upstairs - that's it. Bus service is great and with its central location, does not take long to get anywhere on property. Pepper Market is a great deal for breakfast. Get your food "to-go" and sit out by Lago Dorado. You'll see turtles and fish in the lake!I don't know if some people are just trying to give CSR a bad name or what. But, it really is a beautiful resort.
My family and I have just returned from Walt Disney World where we chose to stay at Shades of Green. I can honestly tell you that "Deluxe" is a far cry from our experience unless you, the reader, finds the following part of a "deluxe" package: 1. No Free WiFi as advertised 2. No Fridge in our room as advertised 3. No hair dryer in our room as advertised 4. Broken Faucet in bath 5. Slimy and nasty dirty, scum rimmed swimming pool (Millpond Pool) 6. Inconveniences with drop off and pick up using bus transportation (distance, cover) 7. Wasp problems on outside room deck and pool area; also in the pool water 8. Non engaged staff and management; bad attitudes, unhappy staff 9. Understaffed in Manginos 10. Staff caring for their own family more than ours at Manginos; kid sleeping under a plastic bag in the seat; kid left unattended for long period of time while staff continued to fret and fuss on this table and missing child all evening long! 11. Front desk Manager needs better training and accommodating attitude when addressing complaints such as ours: *** Midnight in our room, we are awoken to someone coming into our room with a key card!!! When we made formal complaint, we were told it was an "honest mistake". Think of the variables that could have arisen with that kind of honest mistake!! 12. The gear shift on our car somehow during it's valet parking was broken! I'm sure it was an honest mistake, of course. The true honest mistake here was our choosing this so called Deluxe Resort. We can not recommend this Resort as we will not be returning.
Me and my family went to Walt Disney World in August of 2012 ...the last week. i have to say this was a great time to go the weather was perfect! We got the free dining package and were more than satisfied, we received a fast food meal a beautiful table service meal and the choice of 1 of many snack options per day, which also included the free refillable mug. We of course stayed at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort which was ideal and i know that many people comment on how walking is such an issue but believe me it isn't and i'm not the most in shape person on earth! We stayed in building 43 of Jamaica which was across the lake from Old Port Royale. We were so happy to enter our room which had been cleaned and was neat and not dirty at all. We found not one problem with the room and we were convienently a 1 minute walk from the bus stop which is awesome as the bus takes you to every park. The grounds of this resort were lushly landscaped and filled with little surprises like exotic flowers and beautiful colors. We made our way across the island to go to Old Port Royale for breakfast and when we arrived at centertown we were greeted by many disney cast members who were happy to answer any questions. There are 5 food stations at CBR and also the sit down restaurant shutters. You can also order pizza to your room from bluerunners. The food at CBR is very good for a moderate resort and i wouldnt want to go anywhere else. Caribbean Beach has also plenty recreation options such as a marina and jogging trail an arcade a large gift shop and plenty more! All in all if your planning on going to a moderate resort Caribbean Beach is definetely my pick!
We stayed at CSR in 2012 in the Cabanas buildings. We absolutely loved this resort! The grounds are beautiful and my daughter and I enjoyed an early morning walk every morning while the Mrs was putting her face on for the day. The staff gave excellent service and I would say their attentiveness was even better than the deluxe resorts we have stayed at. The rooms are a little lacking in color and theme but we liked the fact that there are actual doors between the bedroom and bathroom areas. I never understood why a shower curtain in this capacity is in any way acceptable at other mods. The pool area....WHOA! In my opinion this is second only to Stormalong Bay at Beach Club but the huge difference in cost per night more than makes up for that. The pool is beautiful in theme as well as landscaping and layout. The water slide is tons of fun and they have kids activities all day long. Although we did not take advantage of it they have the largest hot tub on Disney property here. Bus service is great as the resort does not share busses with any others. There are four bus stops on the resort so the size of the resort does not detract from walking distances or crowding in our experience. The main buildings and dining are all very nice as well. Lobby and gift shop are great and the Pepper Market are all a grand slam in terms of themeing and quality. Nice outdoor patio area for dining and sitting in the evenings enjoying a drink from the outdoor bar area. In closing let me say that this is the ONLY resort we ever booked a return trip to. We usually like to keep trying new experiences but our trip was so great there that we re-booked for 2014 and have no doubt in our mind that our stay will more than live up to our expectations.
WL was the first deluxe resort we ever stayed at (and the only one so far) and it is just an absolutely spectacular resort. We love that all the rooms are centrally located in one building. The grand lobby is breathtaking and I literally had to stop and stare when I first walked in. Roaring Fork is a great place to grab a quick meal or snack. The specialty waffles are yummy as is the Magic Cookie Bar. We made a special trip here last week with some family who had never seen the lodge to get one of these snacks. They too were completely blown away. The boat ride to MK is nice and relaxing and we had very good luck with bus service. The line for buses were never long when the parks closed. The only downside was how far down the hall that our room on the villas side was but even then, it wasn't as far from the food court as the furthest rooms at any of the value resorts are. WL will always be our home as it was the first resort we really fell in love with. A must stay for anyone staying on Disney property!
Having stayed at all levels of Disney Resorts, this was easily my favorite resort. Prior to our stay at WL, we stayed at the Contemporary, Pop Century and Coronado Springs. Several years ago, I stayed at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. For several reasons, WL ranks above all of those hotels in my opinion, and chances are we will not stay at any other hotel from now on. There are 2 things that put WL above even the other deluxes in my opinion: (1) The size (the ease of which you can get to and from your room from transportation, The Roaring Fork, and the pool; and (2) the tranquilness. The size of the Disney hotels is often not considered by hotel guests until it's too late to do anything about it (i.e., until you hauling a stroller and a sleeping child from the bus back to your room at 10 pm). It is so easy to get from the buses and/or boat to your room in WL. Unless you get lucky or pay significantly extra to stay close to the main hub in other hotels, you will walk a considerable distance back to your room. After a long, exhausting day in the parks that can make you pretty sour. Not only was our room closer to transportation, but it was also so close to the quick service restaurant, Roaring Fork. It was so nice to be able to go down and fill up our mugs in the morning and at night or grab a quick snack. It was a real pain at the other hotels to have to trek out and get that stuff. It just made out trip so much more enjoyable. Also, the other hotels can be really noisy. At WL, all you hear in the morning or at night from your balcony is the waterfall. It's so nice at the end of a long day to just sit out on the balcony and have a glass of wine or in the morning having a cup of coffee and just listen to the soothing waterfall. Compared to the chaos you encounter pretty much everywhere else in Disney, it's a treat you don't appreciate until you have it. There are several other reasons I love WL. But those two are why I will never stay anywhere else.
The Port Orleans French Quarter is a very nice moderate resort that feels like a deluxe resort. It has very great bus service and a nice and cute dragon themed pool. I stayed in building 5 on the third floor with a pool view and it was never loud and was in a good location to the stunning lobby and delicious food court. The buses run on a good schedule and have 2 stations in the front of the resort lobby. Station A serves the Water Parks, Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom and Epcot, and Station B serves Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. The room was clean and stunning. If you want quiet rooms, I would recommend buildings 1, 6, and 7. The resort is so small and intimate resort , so every building is close to everything, but buildings 3 and 4 are closest. I have stayed here two other times and it has always been great! Never doubt staying here! Don't think twice about staying at one of the best WDW resorts!
This is by far the best resort on Disney property, the cast members are always so friendly and it really does feel like home. My family loves the 2 story grand villas, because it is one of the few places on property where we can all stay in one room. It can be a little annoying if your room is in Carousel of Grandstand if you want to get to Artist's Palette, but since The Springs is the last stop on the buses, you can grab any bus to get there, and it isn't that bad of a walk afterwards. Overall, this resort is always a joy to stay at and can't wait to go again in a month!!!!
So you're going to Disney and you're looking to keep it within the budget...that sometimes can be hard to do. Maybe you're afraid that if you go to a Value Hotel you and your family will not get to experience all the Magic. My family and I went last year and we stayed at the All Start Movies Resort. The main building is very cool, starting with a little TV viewing area for the kids to watch while you're checking in. When you enter you're welcomed by the staff and they make it feel magical! The rooms are like your standard room at a value resort with the exception that the beds are comfortable, furniture is clean, carpet is perfect, you have a fridge, table and chairs, decent sized bathroom. Look, I LOVE Walt Disney World but I'll try to keep the costs as low as possible. I'm CHEAP too. The way I see it, I just need a hotel to hang out by the pool, a comfortable bed, A/C, TV and a shower. This place does all that and it gives you a nice pool for the kids! The pool is big and my son loved it. They have a nice Arcade that looks a lot like the Arcade in the movie "Wreck It Ralph" and they have a food court with good options too. We had a delicious meatball sub there. You can park your car and just take the buses to the park. The fridge is big enough that you can bring food to have breakfast in the room if you so wish. That's what we did. Oh they also have free wi-fi, which was a very nice bonus. Look, don't expect the Ritz Carlton just because it's Disney. If you show up expecting a Courtyard or Hampton Inn, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Part of my fond memories is the hotel itself and seeing my son swimming toward Mickey (Wizard Mickey is at the end of the pool spraying water). If you want to keep it cheap, this is a good way to do it. If you need to cut costs to have a Disney vacation, it's OK to step down to this hotel. After all, you'll be at the parks all day right? ;-) ENJOY!
Stayed in Oak Manor in February 2011. Nice room, but definitely could use a refurb (hopefully PORS is next on the list). Very good location - close to parking and a bus stop, and not too far from the lobby. The resort grounds were really beautiful, and we enjoyed the boat to DtD more than we expected to - sure beat taking the bus! We're going to try other moderates before returning to PORS, but we'd stay there again.
We stayed at the Grand Floridian in January 2013 (Conch Key building) and had a WONDERFUL stay. From the moment we entered the resort the cast members were so friendly and welcoming. That set the Grand apart right away for us. Our room was HUGE and so comfortable. We had a great view - really loved being able to watch the Electrical Water Pageant from our window each night. The monorail and boat transportation was SO wonderful - we've never had that before and might be spoiled now. Gaspirilla Island had great counter service options beyond the typical counter service fare, and Citricos is one of our favorite restaurants on property. Pool was being refurbed, so we didn't get to try it out. Can't wait to return to the Grand!
We've stayed at the Boardwalk 3 times - twice on the Inn side (both in 2009) and once on the villas side in 2011. All three stays were great! The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the atmosphere is so relaxing and fun. Really love the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast and am looking forward to going there again after the recent (and much-needed) renovation and expansion. Fantastic location...our favorite resort!
Rented points to stay in a studio room at Beach Club Villas in January 2012. The resort itself is fabulous - you CANNOT beat being able to walk to two parks. Beachclub Marketplace had some great quick service choices and lunch at Beaches & Cream was pretty great. Didn't have time to try out the pool and am hoping to rectify that sometime in the future! Only issue was the actual room itself...it just felt tired and outdated. Hopefully the villa rooms will get a refurb in the future, as the resort rooms look beautiful in photos.
We stayed in a savanna-view room in Jambo House (June 2011). The theming in the room and the resort itself is outstanding - a great example of what sets a Disney resort apart. Loved relaxing in the huge lobby and with a drink at Victoria Falls. A big reason why we love this resort is that it's home to two of our favorite restaurants - Jiko and Sanaa (in the Kidani building...a short walk/shuttle ride away). Really liked being able to grab a quick bite at the Mara and the pools at Jambo and Kidani are beautifully landscaped and themed. Transportation wasn't bad at all - we expected worse, but going into it with realistic expectations we really weren't disappointed. Can't wait to go back in December!
I was surprised by how much I loved this resort. I've stayed at several deluxe resorts before, so I didn't think this would live up to the usual dose of Disney magic, but it did. Honestly, the registration area looks like it belongs in a deluxe resort. I first stayed here in February 2012, in a Magnolia Bend building (Acadian House) right after the refurbishment was finished. The room was beautiful and large enough for 2 adults. In May of 2013, I stayed here again in a Royal Room in Paterre Place. For 3 adults, it was a slightly tighter fit, but it was never uncomfortable. The dining options are great here. In addition to Boatwright's (which was excellent), we went to Riverside Mill a few times, and even at busy meal times, there was plenty of space in the seating area. The food was great, and we especially enjoyed the make-your-own salad section. People say this is a large resort. It is, but it's not as spread out as I was afraid it would be. Once you kind of figure out where everything is, it seems a lot closer. Also, we had a rental car, so transportation wasn't a problem for us. We drove from Paterre Place to the main building for restaurants and to take the bus to Magic Kingdom. The bus service can be a bit time consuming, but as long as you plan for it in advance, it's not a problem. The boat to Downtown Disney can't be beat. It's a much better option, in my opinion, than either driving and parking there or taking the bus. It's a relaxing ride to and from the Marketplace side of DTD. My only issue with the boat service is that the boats don't start running till awhile after DTD stores open. I was surprised by this because it seems Disney transportation typically starts running before opening time to the parks. Keep in mind that if you plan on taking the boat to DTD, you won't be there first thing. However, we found that sitting in the rocking chairs by the dock for a half-hour was extremely relaxing, even if it did set back our plans a bit. We never did use the main pool, although it looked really nice. The quiet pools in Magnolia Bend were closer and emptier than the main pool. The only problem with the quiet pool is that apparently, you're supposed to bring towels from your room. Another guest told us that once I realized I couldn't find the towels (there was a bin to throw used towels, but no new towels). The guest said she asked, and she was told there's a note in the guest rooms about bringing your own towels to the quiet pool. I ransacked my room after that and still couldn't find this note. So essentially, I would stay at Riverside again in a heartbeat, and the only things I would do differently are not plan to be at DTD when it opens and bring my own towel to the quiet pool. All in all, those aren't exactly dealbreakers!
POFQ is by far the best moderate resort out there. Rooms are excellent and recently renovated, the grounds are breathtaking with lovely gardens between each building. Being a small resort everything is closer and from the farthest building to the lobby you're looking at a 3 to 5 minutes walk tops. Transportation is a breeze with only one bus stop and the service is excellent, never waiting more than 10 minutes for a bus. It has a boat service to DTD which makes the trip to a Earl sandwich or some Goofy candy an experience in itself, it's a lovely way to expend a evening. I miss a table service restaurant but with POR and Boatwright being nearby it's not a major flaw. The quick service restaurant is good but lacks a bit of variety. There's only one small pool and the slide is nothing to write home about so if swimming is a priority I'd look elsewhere.
We spent a week at Okw last March. It wasnt our first choice But at the time of year we would be there and the need for 2 studios it made the most sense . From the moment we arrived we really loved the look of the place. Very well done with the typical color palette that you would see in Key West. After a huge mix up at check in...(inexperienced cast member and TWO familes checking in with the same last name) We finally made it to our rooms. The are HUGE. The small patio is great for an early morning cup of coffee and the laptop. Comfy Beds, Great bathroom, And we got some groceries to make the most of the Kitchenette . It was great To have a Bagel and Coffee Early in the morning , Cold drinks at Night and access to a fridge, toaster and Microwave made it so easy to have breakfast in the room every day. The buses seem to run with great regularity which isnt always the case at Wdw. We used the boat service to visit DownTown almost Daily and loved it. The pool is great and we really enjoyed the outside tables at the marina for late night drinks and snacks. I highly recommend this resort and would love to go back sometime in the near future!!
This resort is the best resort on the entire Disney property! The service is the best and they treat us just like family. Every time you walk through the door they tell you "Welcome Home". To me it is these little things that makes this resort very special. The pool here is amazing. We love to just sit and relax in the lazy river. This place can be a little on the pricey side but it is completely worth the price. Everything about this resort is worth a 10! Probably the best part about this resort though is that you can walk to Epcot and take a boat to Hollywood Studios...I mean who doesn't like that!
The Wilderness Lodge is, in my opinion, one of the best options for those who want to try a deluxe resort, stay close to a park, and not bust the budget. It's the most affordable of all the deluxe hotels, and though it also has the smallest rooms, its incredibly beautiful lobby and proximity to MK make it a great choice! We stayed here with three adults, a 12 year old, and a 1 year old, and never felt cramped in the room at all. We chose this resort because we knew that, with a little one, we'd be spending more time in our room, and wanted to be close to MK. The ferry boat to MK is one of the best things about staying here! We requested a room on the top floor, on the MK side, and were able to see some of the highest fireworks during Wishes, and the Electrical Water Pageant each night from our room. Our kids loved the main pool and the activities on the beach. On site dining options are very good - we have enjoyed both breakfast and dinner at Whispering Canyon. The skillets and milkshakes are very good, and the service is...well, entertaining! Artist Point is a very nice signature dining experience, and Roaring Fork is a very basic quick service - nothing special, but adequate for quick meals. I highly recommend this resort during the holidays as well. We stayed during Thanksgiving week, and the decorations in the lobby are breathtaking! We have stayed in a variety of WDW resorts, from value to deluxe, and this is our favorite so far!
This is my least favorite Disney resort on property, and I stay here only when every other moderate is booked up. I've been here twice in ten years and the experience has been identical: too spread out, too isolated from the foodcourt, and everything is dependent on busses. If you like solitude and don't mind waiting around for busses to shuttle you to the food court building, you'll probably like CBR. This is a beautiful and quiet as well as lusciously landscaped resort. It has a nice pool, and employees are super friendly and genuinely seem to like working here. Its best for those folks who need only a room to hang out and spend the entire rest of their time at the parks, Otherwise, you are entirely dependent on bus transportation even for breakfast. Only the two closest buildings (and the two across from the pool) are really close enough to walk to anything. One warning -- if you pick a pirate-themed room here, you will be in the absolutely furthest and most remote buildings on the entire resort grounds. If you have a car you will find yourself driving everywhere. If you don't have a car and are reliant on bus transportation it will test your patience to the absolutely limit. As a usual guest at French Quarter, I can also state that it has the least reliable and what seems like the longest waits for busses to the resorts and DTD of any of the resorts I have stayed it. Busses seem to come every 30-35 minutes instead of the 15-20 minutes at POFQ and RIV. Best for those who want a quiet, solitary getaway and aren't in need of food court or other amenities. Not a resort I recommend to anyone.
This is a beautiful resort, and it offers many amenities for families and groups. The food court is excellent, and the bus service is quite good. The river running through the resort makes it all feel beautiful and peaceful. There can be some rooms (especially on the west side of the resort) that can be quite far away from the main buildings and restaurants. The boat to DTD is especially nice. But, and this is a big but, Disney tends to put large high school groups into the larger Mansion buildings 80 and 85. DO NOT request those areas. They are often unsupervised groups of teens that scream, shout, bang around, slam doors, and generally make noise until well after 1:00 am every night. Buildings 90 and 95 which used to be my favorite are now themed Princess rooms, so are no longer available to the standard visitor. That leaves the cottages to the west. I've stayed here three or four times in the past couple years when French Quarter has been fully booked, and 2 of the 4 trips I had to request a room change to get away from unruly teenage groups. Riverside has been very accommodating, but that 1:30 am trek to another building ruins the experience overall. If you want a quiet, relaxing experience, be sure that Disney does NOT shuffle you off to 80 or 85.
Far and away the best moderate resort, especially for adults traveling without kids -- but really for anyone -- and in some ways even BETTER than most of the Deluxe resorts. The smallest resort by far, nothing is more than a 3 minute walk from the main building and bus stops. It has frequent and very good bus service to the parks, and a wonderful boat down to DTD. The "secret is out" though -- and its become the hardest moderate to book with the least discounts offered. Nearby Riverside is better for larger groups or families with many kids. This "used" to be known as the "adult resort at WDW" -- not anymore, its now filled with strollers and families traveling with grandma, grandpa, and adopted others in tow, so you'll need to pack your patience at the bus stops. On a recent trip, not one single bus that I took all week was able to load up without waiting for the handicap loading to take place first and without people jostling to figure out where to put their strollers onboard. Still, its the only resort I book anymore.
Probably the "best" all around family resort when traveling with kids, Wilderness Loge has the "wow" factor in spades, from your first entrance through the majestic lobby, to your entire stay. The boat to MK is wonderfully relaxing, the busses run frequently to the parks, and the resort is gorgeous. Meal options are plentiful and varied (though the food "court" is not much more than a snack bar.). Highly recommended.
Some background... Two stays per year since 2005 (over 16). Always in Woods or Courtyard View. WL is probably the BEST Deluxe out there - great features, great staff, great rooms, great transportation, great dining... did I mention it was great? As a measure of commitment? Sandy and I bought into DVC in June of 2012. I refused to buy in until Disney gave me a HOME contract at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Folks? No one lays down over $28,000 cash for a bad resort.
Stayed in a savanna view bunk bed room with the wife and 2 year old in August of 2012, and we were very impressed with this resort! Very reminiscent of the Wilderness Lodge, but with the African theme. I loved the lobby, particularly the continuously burning campfire, and the view from our room was fantastic! We utilized the shuttle to visit both pools during our stay, and they are both great for kids and adults. This is a great resort for those who want to slow down and enjoy the hotel during your wdw stay, as there are lots of activities for the kids. The dining at AKL is really some of the best anywhere on property. The Mara is probably my favorite resort counter service restaurant, and the breakfast buffet at Boma is one of the best meals I've ever had on property. Highly recommend this resort!
My favorite resort. It is the only one I stay when visiting Disney World. The theme and style is amazing. They have a solarium where you can enjoy a meal or snack or if you just want to relax. There is the Beach Club marketplace where you can buy Disney merchandise, snacks, refill your mugs, a small selection of sandwiches. They also have some breakfast options. The rooms are nice and spacious. They have double sinks, with nice size closet, 5 dress drawer, desk with a roll out table underneath. All the rooms have balconies, but some are standing only balconies. My favorite thing about the Beach Club is the location. You are within walking distance from Epcot, Boardwalk, and Hollywood Studios. I like to walk the Boardwalk in the evening after coming from Epcot. They sometimes have entertainment like a magician. The Beach Club is also famous for its pool, The Storm-along-Bay. I have never been in this pool, but there is always a line to go on the slide. For other food options you have the Beaches and Cream. They do not take ADRs so this place can get crowded and have long waits to get in. There is also Hurricane Hannah's by the Storm-along-bay pool which was just refurbished. For table service they have Cape May Café. They have the character breakfast which I like and always do at least twice when I am there. The characters are Goofy, Minnie and Donald Duck in beach attire. And they have a clam bake for dinner. You can always venture off to the Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin for other food options.
We decided to do an impromptu second trip one year and due to limited room availability, wound up at the Coronado Springs Resort. That was my first mistake. The room is small, beds weren't comfortable at all and walls are very thin, (either that or we had very loud families staying on either side of us) The grounds are well kept, I say this because, I saw lots of the grounds, walked for what seemed to be atleast 3/4 mile to the lobby and to the pool. The food, just wasn't up to, what I would call Disney standards. The pool, was nice, but closed early. The wait for the bus to any where, was LONG. Just not for me or my family.
A stay at the Contemporary Resort is just one of those Disney Must Do's. THIS is where it all began folks!!! We used to stay at the Contemporary when our son was younger. It is a convention hotel, and does have somewhat of a covention hotel *feel* it... IF you look for it. From Chef Mickey's to the gorgeous views and close proximity (walking distance!!) to the Magic Kingdom, it is just magical to ANY child (of ANY age ;) ) I still get a kick out of eating at Chef Mickey's with the Fab 5, and being able to see the Monorail come thru the Contemporary overhead. The Outer Rim bar is a nice place for adults to relax, with gorgeous views of Bay Lake. The arcade is alot of fun and large too! Contemporary Resort IS Disney!!!!
We absolutely LOVE The Polynesian Resort!!! We usually stay here every Fall, and as soon as the DME arrives at the Poly, that *vacation* feel starts. We have stayed in just about all the buildings, but really do enjoy the Club Level Hawaii building. (Lawrence, at the Concierge Desk, is just about the best CM I have ever encountered) The rooms are nice and large, and balconies are just a must do to start or end a perfect day at Disney. Watching Wishes on the Poly beach is wonderful!!! Kona Cafe, and Ohana (two of our fav Disney property restaurants) are both steps away, as is Captain Cook's for a quick Counter Service meal. (Pork nachos are outstanding!!) Although the Volcano pool is LOTS of fun, the quiet pool is perfect for a mid day pool break (get yourself a Pina CoLava from the Barefoot Bar and R-E-L-A-X) The grounds are so pretty and have a definate calming feel to it. Nights are sooooo quiet too! The transportation options are just about the best at the Poly, in our opinion; the Monorail, Bus or Ticket Transportation Center are all a short walk away. The rooms are a bit on the dark side, but still very relaxing. The beds are big, comfy and inviting at the end of every Disney Day. Room service is quick and delish!!! I HIGHLY recommend the Poly for a perfect Disney vacation! Aloha!!!
I arrived at the shades of green on Monday april 15th, I was very upset with just about everything at the hotel except for the appearance. It is a beautiful place but the service and quality is horrible in my opinion. We were never given any information about the hotel, such as children event times, or any type or run down, we didn't even get directions to our room. We walked around aimlessly looking for our room before finally we found it after about 20 minutes of walking around the ground. Then we got to the room and it looked very nice, but then we realized there was no microwave in the room which in other disney resorts there is, I had to walk across the resort to get to the microwave to warm my food, I had to warm it so hot it almost burned my fingers just to ensure it wouldn't be cold by the time i got home. This was disappointing since its supposed to be a deluxe resort. Next I tried to sign onto the WIFI in the room and it kept telling me there were too many people on the server. I have traveled my whole life and not once did I ever have to pay for parking at a hotel, even the cheap Howard Johnson offers free parking. Also cheap hotels offer a complimentary breakfast which is not available at this resort. I thought this was a resort for military personnel shouldn't we be treating them with the best service? The room service took about an hour for a pizza, chicken fingers and fries, after they said 20 minutes. This place was just full of disappointment. I wish I had saved my money and just stayed at a disney resort such as the all stars I would have gotten better service. This resort just doesn't seem deluxe by any means. Oh and to top it off every other hotel I called gave rides to orlando international airport for free except this one and this is deluxe? I will never return to this resort ever and also hope this will help other people in making their decision to not come here.
Pros: Pools are good size, rooms are clean, cheap , staff is ok nice Note about staff: Most of the staff are polite but sometimes you may run into a rude staff or one that does not pay attention. Cons: Buses can take a while but better that all star movies, food area may be crowded. Overall I would recommend it for everybody ( many more pros exist but I am not going to write them because I am lazy.) Small children would probably do better at all star movies.
I couldn't wait to go and enjoy the spa at the Grand Floridian this past week... and I really cant say enough. I chose to do the Bubble Bath, which was amazing! I arrived on time, and was escorted back.. no kids or noise to notice... and my first stop was a spot where I was handed a Mango drink... and then off to the locker rooms! You are given slippers, and a robe with a locker... then you can go to the steam room, the jacuzzi or the sitting room. All three are lovely. These are seperate for men and women... so bring the swim suit! *** I was put off by one thing. In the jacuzzi area...there was a woman laying in one of the lounge chairs loudly talking on her cell phone. Everything echos in there so I am not sure how on earth she could hear the other person.... but I dont think she really cared that we could hear everything... Adorned in sneakers and all her shopping bags.. I couldn't help but wonder, why hadn't someone said anything to her. So I mentioned to the staff how I felt (FYI it is posted EVERYWHERE no cell phonesand for the $$$ you shell out it should be an automatic GET OFF THE PHONE)... and they must've said something because the next time I saw her, she was texting rather than chatting away... So I give cudos to the staff for nipping that! Ok back to the fun... tiny muffins (carrot zucchini) and apples are left out for you to dine on, as well as cucumber water and hot tea, of your choosing.. the waiting room is very nice, quiet... with reclining leather chairs... Oh and the showers... they are huge! There is a complete station to do your hair afterwards that has gel, hairspay, curlers, you name it..... The room where I was escorted to with Johanna was gorgeous.. quiet... and perfect. The scrub down smelled heavenly, and the bath, even better... with jets everywhere... the end came to soon... and I was massaged with a mimosa lotion. I am not writing too much on the experience since it will be different to everyone, but this was FANTASTIC! Oh, and if you are a DVC member... mention it... worth the discount! Total for my excursion $174 (included the 20% tip and the discount). Worth every penny, and I will go back for more!
We stayed here on 2/19-2/26/13. The resort was super clean. It rained one day and the staff was outside drying off the pool seats, benches, and tops of trash cans. The main pool was gorgeous! We did online check in so there wasn't a hassle! They even checked our luggage and stored our carry ons until we were ready to leave. The staff was super friendly, and housekeeping was great! I do agree with the long walk to Old Port Royale, but I made sure we had a room near the main pool! Bus service was less than stellar, but I hate public transpotation to begin with! We didn't get a rental car so I was stuck with busing! I do agree with the person who posted a ton of stops within the resort before you leave for Disney etc... Not the end of the world though! We had some great quick service meals in Old Port Royale, and some fabulous fine dining inside Disney and Epcot etc... The rooms were cute, and quite adequate! Overall I would recommend this resort to my best friends and family!!! Great time had by all!
I would never expect this of a Motel 6 not a disney hotel! We had two rooms and both were filthy! Two beds the sheets were not cleaned and the rollaway bed had food in it, we returned two of them! The size of the room was tiny and should not accomidate nore then 2 people per room!! They pack you in like sardeens! The restaraunt was a nightmare, long long lines in a cafateria setting and no seats!! You wait in line for your food in the food court and by the time you cash out there is no tables your food is cold!! Any by the was the food quality is discusting!! Its all about numbers with Disney Quanity not quality! Also the bus system is a nightmare by the time the bus gets there ( Which by the way could take 40 mins) its full and they make you stand even the children have to stand!! There are no seats!! My children are 6 and 7 and had nothing to hold onto!! SHAME ON YOU DISNEY!!!! SHAME!! How is that legal not to have seats especially for children! It was a 30 min ride in the bus!!! My children were crying of exhauston! I am not happy with Disney at this point!! Never stay on property!!! There is no point!! Just maddness!!!
My wife and I stayed at the Dophin Resort in Orlando, FL. I was attending a conference there so it made sense to stay there as a guest. I noticed on the flyer that we were gievn at check in that there was a $14.00/day charge for bottled water & coffee in the room, plus use of the fitness center. I checked with the concierge and was informed "no, that is all included in your room fee. There is no added charge". I next noticed that the sign at the gated parking lot entry stated a $15.98/day parking fee. I was assured that this was for hotel visitors and that the fee is included in the hotel room fee. Okay, so my fear of hidden charges was overblown. That is, until check out time when I saw thet there was a $11.50/day service charge attached to my room charge. PLUS a $15.98/day parking charge. Now, I must explain to all that there is NO OTHER OPTION FOR PARKING WHEN STAYING AT THE DOPHIN RESORT than to park in THEIR parking lot. So, to charge a parking fee seems to me to be "highway robbery". The Dophin management DID remove the $11.50/day service fee after I protested for over a half an hour. They would not, however remove the $15.98/ day parking fee. Every hotel I have stayed at in the past included free parking on their lot when staying at their hotel. Every hotel I have stayed at in the past included use of their fitness center, free in-room coffee and/or bottled water. Every hotel I have stayed at in the past also included some type of free breakfast for guests. The room fee has also been a more reasonable $125.00/night max. For a room fee of double that amount I expect to NOT have added fees tacked on every time I turn a corner. I also expect for the DirecTV signal to work on EVERY channel offered, not just 5 of them.....(but that is another story) I WILL NOT be staying at a Disney Resort hotel in the future and I suggest that you also NOT stay at one unless you like having your pockets picked by the management!
We have been to several wdw resorts & this was our least favorite. We enjoyed Caribbean beach, All Stars, Port Orleans Riverside. This resort had nice sized rooms & a good staff, but everything about the place was not appealing. The other resorts were beautiful, Inside & out. Coronado springs was just ok. We will never go back there even for a discount. Everything was inconvenient. Our room was so far from everything & we were exhausted after dealing with crowds & standing in lines all day. Who wants to walk that far just to get a drink or snack? We finally started driving to the front & saw others doing that too. The snack stand was not nearly as nice as the other resorts we have stayed & the restaurant was ok. It was not up to the standards of the other hotels we have been to.... Nothing about it was as great as everything else Disney. We were disappointed.